Date July 31, 2010Comments
It’s no secret that there are blueberries at Chik-Wauk, especially on the granite clifftops along the Big Sag hiking trail.
In fact, the Chik-Wauk Nature Center is a veritable berry land. You’ll find raspberries galore amongst the blueberries.
Our neighbors to the north, the Canucks, have a penchant for saskatoons (also known as juneberries and/or serviceberries). We have a fruiting saskatoon bush right along the pathway up from the parking lot.
The saskatoons, which are really just enormous blueberries on a large shrub, have a tougher skin and larger seed than blueberries and taste a little mealy to the Minnesotan palate.
While there are plenty of saskatoons around (and slipping a couple into your blueberry bucket will make it fill up so much faster), people around these parts generally prefer the taste of blueberries and although some Canadians swear that saskatoon pies are “the best”, most of us remain unswayed from our blueberry pie and blueberry jam.
Bunchberries are another berry you’ll find in the Chik-Wauk woods.
You can eat bunchberries, but you might wonder why you bothered. Although the bright red berries look pretty luscious, the berries are basically flavorless. They’re great if you just want a little hit of hydration while you’re hiking though.
But whatever you pick, don’t be tempted by the bright blue seed pod on the bluebead lily plants. This “berry” is actually poisonous: not a good addition to the berry bucket at all!
Happy Berrying!
Date July 26, 2010Comments
Busy as a bee.
That’s how it’s been around Chik-Wauk since our grand opening earlier this month. After 350 people attended the July 4th grand opening, we’d figured we witnessed our allotted excitement. Nope. With an average 100+ daily visitors, Chik-Wauk remains a very happening place. Don’t worry: we’re doing our best to keep the gift shop stocked, the trails cleared, and museum clean and welcoming. We’re so excited and happy to see all of our visitors!
We’ve been so busy taking care of everybody inside, we’ve kind of forgotten to report on the fascinating goings-on outside in our nature center. A quick survey of the trails confirmed that the grounds are as busy and beautiful as always with flowers blooming, bees pollinating, and birds and squirrels singing (or yammering if the case of Mr. Squirrel) from the trees.
The bountiful blueberries are anything but a secret. Even if your mind’s set on blueberries as you head into the woods, there’s plenty to be seen beside big, plump blueberries. Since your berry pail’s bound to fill up amazingly fast, take time to notice some of the other beautiful offerings of this North Woods high summer season.
You might not find a whole lot blooming along Moccasin Lane, our interpretative wildflower walk, this time of year (many of the wildflowers have fruited) but you can still find some pretty interesting things like this beautiful mushroom:
Or bluebead lilies.
It seems a little early for pearly everlasting, that harbinger of autumn, to be blooming. Oh no! We’re not ready for summer to be slipping away!
The fruit of the sarsaparilla plants make a delicate contrast with the granite along the Amikwiish Way Trail.
Come see what you can find at Chik-Wauk!
Date July 23, 2010Comments
You never know what a day at Chik-Wauk might bring, especially if you’re a volunteer. At Chik-Wauk, volunteers contribute a lot, everything from a smile to greet the guests to grunt work out our nature trails. There are a few daily tasks that volunteers help with like filling bird feeders, checking the mail, helping in the gift shop, and sweeping the porch. Volunteers continue to be the driving force that keeps Chik-Wauk going: we don’t know what we’d do with out them! But every once in a while we have a random task, that makes us really, really glad we have such a great bunch of flexible fun volunteers who are willing to just about anything we ask of them: like trying to find the serial number on the flat screen monitor in our theatre display.
It wouldn’t be so difficult if it weren’t for the wooden frame around the entire screen . . .
But most activities around Chik-Wauk are a little quieter in nature: like spending an overcast day knitting in the reading corner.
You never know how you’ll spend your time at Chik-Wauk. You might go on hike, have a picnic, listen to volunteer and Forest Ranger stories, or go on scavenger hunt. Stop by soon to see what’s happening!
Date July 18, 2010Comments
If you’re ever looking for a rainy day activity on the Gunflint Trail, don’t forget about the reading corner at Chik-Wauk.
Thanks to the hard work of our volunteer librarians, the Chik-Wauk boasts quite the library. You’ll find books about the Gunflint Trail area, books by Gunflint Trail residents, and information about the region’s flora and fauna. We also have several “wooden” books, or books compiled by the Gunflint Trail Historical Society with information on the museum and its history, historical photos, and much more. Kids can find plenty of reading material in the children’s section of the library. We have all sorts of stories about bears, moose, berry picking and the life and legends of the North Woods.
It’s not a lending library (yet), so feel free to plop down in one of our four easy chairs or spread out on the burl table in the other corner of the museum. It’s been designed with intent for you to stay a while.
If you have a book you’d like to donate to the Chik-Wauk Library, feel free to bring it with you the next time you’re in our neck of the woods. We’re always very happy for any additions to round out our selection.
Happy Reading!
Date July 10, 2010Comments
Date July 9, 2010Comments
We’ve been blessed with beautiful weather for this week following our grand opening. Sunny skies, warm temps, cool breezes, and finally, a break in the humidity. It’s truly great weather to come up to Chik-Wauk, not only to see the museum, but to spend some time on our hiking trails as well. The wildflowers have been a little ahead of schedule this year: you’ll see many “late season” flowers popping up already!
We’re so happy that so many of you are choosing to spend part of your day. After Sunday’s grand opening, we thought things might quiet down around here, but we’re delighted to have a steady stream of visitors every day. Thank you all for your warm responses to the museum, as well as your feedback and insight. We’re having so much fun seeing what interested people and grabs their attention. Even more fun is helping out kids trying to complete the Chik-Wauk Scavenger Hunt!
Speaking of scavenger hunts, if you do make it to this end of the Trail, it might be worth keep your eyes peeled for something blue . . .
You might even find some berries popping up beside our hiking trails.
Word on the street is that a lady found her “life bird” (quite an accomplishment among birders) while hiking our trails a few days back. We’re a little sketchy on details, but we believe the bird she sighted was a member of the warbler family. Although there weren’t any quite as remarkable bird sightings, yesterday biologist Peg Robertsen gave a very well received presentation on the MN Bird Breeding Atlas, complete with a bird scouting walk around the Chik-Wauk property.
If you’re looking for birds yourself, we’re happy to report that Chik-Wauk’s birding backpacks have arrived! If you’re a birder, be sure to ask at the front desk for a bird backpack. The backpacks contain a bird guide and a set of binoculars and can be checked out for use on Chik-Wauk’s trails.
Date July 5, 2010Comments
We were a little apprehensive when we woke up yesterday morning. On the bright side, it was no longer 90 degrees with 99% humidity like it had been on Saturday. On the down side, with the cooler temps came 100% humidity (aka, downpour) and flash flood warnings.
But rain or shine, the show had to go on, and early yesterday morning, a group of volunteers came in to set up for the Grand Opening festivities. Everyone was especially amused by the walking canopy in the downpour, as Judy Edlund, event coordinator, and her family, relocated one of the event tents.
But as luck would have it, the sun came out while the grand opening ceremony was taking place. Past presidents Betty Hemstad and Sue Kerfoot gathered with Gunflint District Ranger Dennis Neitzke for the ribbon cutting and grand opening attendees got a sunny welcome to Chik-Wauk.
Our best estimate is that we had 350-400 people attend the event. In the end, we could only call the day a “success.”
If you’re looking for photos of the “big day” check our Facebook album and don’t forget to become a Facebook fan of Chik-Wauk’s.
In case you missed it, the Duluth News Tribune did a great piece on the museum in yesterday’s Sunday paper too. Our thanks for their interest in our project.
We hope you’ll have a chance to visit the newest museum and nature center in Minnesota. From now until October 17, we’ll be open every day, from 10-5.
Don’t forget that on Thursday, July 8th, we have the third USDA Forest Service “Becoming a Boundary Waters Family” presentation. Biologist Peg Robertsen will present on the Minnesota Breeding Bird Atlas at 3 p.m. on the Chik-Wauk front porch.
Date July 2, 2010Comments
. . . HERE WE COME!
To be fair, we’re more than ready for the grand opening this Sunday. This morning, we had a great cleaning/trail maintenance crew in to get the museum sparkling and the trails ready for hiking. Chris from Split Rock Studios has been up putting the final touches on the exhibits. The party tent is up. Now we just have to wait until Sunday. . .
We’re so excited that so many people are expressing interest in the museum and nature center. We thank all new agencies and organizations who saw fit to print news about the museum’s opening:
North Shore Hwy 61, WTIP for a feature news story and an interview with Chik-Wauk Event Coordinator Judy Edlund.
If you plan to attend the festivities on July 4th please be advised:
* Allow driving, parking, and shuttle time of 2 or more hours from Grand Marais. (Gates open at 11 AM)
* Car-pooling is strongly recommended. Parking Flaggers in orange vests will be stationed at County Rd 81 (Moose Pond Drive), County Rd 11 (Sag Lake Trail) and Trail’s End Campground, giving instructions for parking and shuttles.
* Drivers should watch for ‘Flagger Ahead’ signs, slow down, stop, listen to and carefully follow directions.
* Each parking area will be filled completely in a pre-determined order.
* Shuttle vans and buses will move people from the parking areas to the special event tent at Chik-Wauk.
Special accommodation is provided for anyone with a disability or impaired mobility.Please ask a flagger for instructions.
July 4 Schedule
* 11 AM Gates open – attendees will be assigned a “tour number”
* To avoid traffic we suggest you arrive early and & bring a picnic lunch. Picnic tables are available.
* 1PM Ceremony begins “under the big top”
* Key note speaker: Jim Sanders, Superior National Forest Supervisor, USDA Forest Service
* Ribbon-Cutting
* Museum tours in small groups
* Cake & beverages
* Hike the trails
We’ll see you soon!
You can eat bunchberries, but you might wonder why you bothered. Although the bright red berries look pretty luscious, the berries are basically flavorless. They’re great if you just want a little hit of hydration while you’re hiking though.
